Detox oatmeal cookies maybe I need to find a new name for this recipe because I know it sounds like an oxymoron right?? One should probably take a break from all cookies during a detox right? Or what are you adding to these "treats". Stay with me! We are still on a high from the fun of the festivities (and several helpings of pie, cookies and sweets), my kids get crazy grumpy when I suggest we take a break from dessert or treats. Who wouldn't right??
Oats, chia and flax to the rescue! Instead of saying we're going to skip dessert, I offer them some healthier options. These"detox" oatmeal cookies are my solution to the kiddos dessert while still giving them a good dose of fiber, healthy fats and vitamins.
This is one of desserts or "treats" on rotation for the next few weeks and probably in the new year as well. A simple and quick to make oatmeal cookie that can be made with or without the chocolate chips. I made half the batch with Enjoy Life Chocolate Chunks (2-3 chunks … [Read more...]

Pumpkin Spice Breakfast Cookies
Anyone who knows me, knows I LOVE all things pumpkin! Come October I stock up on my sugar pumpkins and cans of pumpkin and get busy in the kitchen on many things pumpkin! Trader Joe’s is totally in my corner! This year they have even MORE pumpkin items than normal! I’m talking pumpkin pasta, pumpkin butter, pumpkin gluten free pancake & waffle mix, pumpkin bread mix and even pumpkin cheerios!! Seriously awesome!! Such inspiration to whip of so many tasty treats of my own!
Thanks to celebrating Canadian Thanksgiving and many weeks of houseguests, I have already made many pumpkin pies and we haven’t even gotten through Halloween yet!! Pumpkin pie will always be a favorite but I also extend the pumpkin love into muffins, cakes and of course cookies! Now that school is in full swing, I thought I’d try something new, Breakfast Cookies! I have tried these before with mixed success, one child loves, one hates or they haven’t kept well. I had all … [Read more...]

In my brief experience in the Midwest I’d say that normally by this time of year we would be in sweaters or at least long sleeves full time by now. Its mid-to-late October and we are having another unseasonal day of 80F. I’m not complaining but the big shifts in temperature keeps sending my cooking plans in a spin. It’s cold one day, shopping day, so I stock up with lots of veg to roast and turn into soups or stews, then we get warm days and all I want is a salad. What’s a gal to do! Well given the huge pot of soup I made this week, I ate the soup but served it warm instead of hot. I don’t mind because I do love soups! This week’s Soup of the Week is an Asparagus, Mushroom Coconut Soup. I tried it out last week when it was a little cooler and boy did it hit the spot! It’s warming, creamy and calming. Made a second batch as part of Sunday batch cooking session to fuel my lunches this week. This soup freezes really well so if the weather suddenly switches to summer weather over night, … [Read more...]

Usually by this time of year we have put away our sundresses and started the morning walk into school with sweatshirts or light jackets. We have been lucky this year with summer weather going through to the third week of September. Not complaining here! The fall equinox was this week, yet summer weather is still forecasted for the near future according to my trusted old weather app! I have been at a bit of a loss for dinners because many of our school night dinners usually consist of pre-made stews or soups but given the warm afternoons, we have been in the mood for more summer-ish dinners! Lots of salads and burgers have been on our menu but I saw pumpkins and autumn squash in the stores which seemed to turn my fall taste buds on! I have been craving the warming fall flavors and started leafing through the soup sections in my recipes books looking forward to making our seasonal favorites. Had the idea of posting a weekly or biweekly Soup of Week post to share some of our … [Read more...]

It’s hard to believe the Fall Equinox was this past week. It’s the third week of September and we are still in shorts and t-shirts. Not complaining! Just noting this amazing weather! Since moving to the mid-west we have had a lot of colder autumns and I can even remember a few August days pulling out the fleeces. Not fair, As my kiddos would say! Despite being Canadian by birth, I am a friend and lover of warmer weather! So this autumn weather is amazing!! I am eating it up along with all of the end of summer fruit that is still in stores! I’m kind of like a kid in the candy store when I go in and see all the peaches and plums that are still there in abundance! Yay fresh stone fruit!
This week’s post is another one using fresh figs!! My little ladies just started their adventure with the local orthodontist so their mouths were a little sore and needed a softer dessert for our Sunday night family feast. Summer fruit crisp with a little cashew cream ice cream was the winner … [Read more...]

School for the kids has started but the produce section is still rich with end of summer fruit and veggies! We are eating as much of these goodies as we can. Lots of peaches, nectarines, plums, berries, figs, summer squash, local corn, tomatoes, we love it all!! One of my favorite end of summer fruits is figs! I love grilling or sautéing them in balsamic vinegar and throwing in a salad or cutting them up and throwing them in our overnight-oats or cereal. My girls are less wild about eating them right out of the fruit bowl but once cut up, cooked or baked they love them, too. Their natural sweetness, like medjool dates, lends itself well to lots of dishes acting as a key sweetener. Figs nutritionally offer a number of essential minerals (magnesium, calcium, copper and potassium along with vitamin K and B6 and are high in fiber. When figs are dried their nutritional value increases. For example half a cup of fresh figs contains as much calcium as a half a cup of milk but only two large … [Read more...]

Inspired by GOOP’s burgers, I whipped these up on a Friday night for my kiddos, along side my Thai Veggie Burgers for the hubby and me. The little ladies had just gotten fitted with their expanders from their orthodontist so I wasn’t sure if they would eat much of anything but these burgers were a big success!! We shared the extra two burgers with our neighbors who had had a long week and were too exhausted to even think about cooking. Just love sharing good food with good friends!
These paired well with usual burger fare: oven fries and finger veggies, but I could also see making these into little meatballs and serving them with a stir-fry, some Healthy Fried Rice or Fava Brown Rice Salad.
Thai Chicken Burgers
Delicious on a hamburger bun or in a large leaf lettuce roll. Option to top burger with a drizzle of sriracha or a spicy Asian mustard dipping sauce, or as my eldest did, good old fashioned ketchup!! Though can’t (won’t) say how the latter would taste! These are … [Read more...]

I had never heard of red velvet cake or cupcakes growing up. Think they originate from the south and are often people dye hard favorite cake or cupcakes! The name alone sounds divine, rich and oh so good! Who wouldn't want one?
It took me a few attempts to find something that would give my cakes a red'ish color and figure out how to make my healthier version close to the original. The beets add a great red tint to the cake and icing. These chocolate cakes are not a family favorite and I can't help but love that they are a one bowl wonder. Quick to whip up for parties or an afternoon with friends. Today's batch was whipped up to share with the kids on our street to celebrate "back-to-school" and the end of a fun summer! They were a big success and some even asked if we could make this annual tradition....cupcakes every day on the first week of school! Sounds like a plan to me!
Red Velvet Cupcakes
My take on red-velvet cake! A healthier version of the original which … [Read more...]

School is officially in gear for us for another year! This year should be a little easier for us logistically but I will still need to get my meal plans back in order to tackle this year. More on meal planning and prep work coming soon to the blog. I have a few tips that have helped me tackle the week and kept healthy meals on the table and in lunch boxes for the kiddos and parents alike!
To start the after school run I made a batch of grain-free granola. I made a variety of variations of this mix depending on what I have on hand. Today I had a good assortment of nuts so did a good mix of almonds, cashews, walnuts and pecans. I was out of my large coconut flakes along with goji berries and dates so I used smaller coconut flakes, some dried cherries (unsulfured and unsweetened) and chopped up some dried figs. Throw in what you have on hand. I have even throw in some of the "healthy" chocolate coated M&M like candies from Trader Joe's (the dye free kind) when I was … [Read more...]

I know it may sound nuts to put spinach in a cupcake? Or there is no way your little ones are going to eat it if they know it has spinach into.....so don't tell them! At least not until they have devoured these treats! I add spinach often to the girls smoothies because its an easy way to throw in some greens without them knowing. The flavor and often color of the spinach is masked by the flavor of the other fruit. Same thing works here! The cakes come out a tinge green but make it fun or add a fun icing or topping. My gals used to call these Kermit Kakes because they were a little green like Kermie! They are a fun spin on an classic kid (and grown up) dessert. My kids actually ask me to buy spinach so we can make these treats! Light and less sweet than the usual cupcakes you may get a birthday parties, when topped with an easy icing, coconut cream or a good dollop of jam, they are a yummy guilt-free goodies packed with goodness.
SPINACH VANILLA CUPCAKES
1 Ener-G egg … [Read more...]